108 BIRDS 



"Can you not see I am busy incubating? Please go 

 away and let me alone." 



One day I saw one of these birds fly to a hole about 

 twenty feet from the ground, in a telephone pole. The 

 bird hung to the side of the pole with its feet, as a 

 Woodpecker does, and poked its head into the hole, with- 

 drew its head and looked around, then took another 

 peep. I presumed that its mate was incubating. As I 

 came closer the Sparrow Hawk flew away and lighted on 

 a wire fifty yards distant. I struck the pole with a stick, 

 and to my surprise a Flicker stuck its head from the 

 hole and surveyed the surroundings. Then seemingly 

 satisfied that everything was all right it withdrew to 

 the inside. The entrance hole was too small for the 

 Hawk ; therefore Mrs. Flicker was permitted to continue 

 her household duties with no further interruption. 



